The Missions, who went into the game with a .218 team batting average, didn't set the world on fire offensively as Springfield pitchers allowed five hits, three coming from Jace Peterson.

Despite the lack of offense, the Missions provided enough offensive heroics to produce three runs in the fourth. Cory Spangenburg followed Travis Jankowski's lead-off walk with an RBI triple and Peterson added a run-scoring single before scoring what turned out to be the winning run on Springfield starter Sam Gaviglio's wild pitch.

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“That looked like old-fashioned San Antonio Missions baseball,” Missions manager Rich Dauer said. “We had good pitching and defense. I had been told how good Hancock was as a pitcher. I didn't see it his first time out, but I did this time. He had quality stuff. He sped up the pace. He hit 96 at one time.”

Hancock (1-1) set the pace by going six innings, the longest outing for a Missions' starter this season.

It was a different scenario for the right-hander, who gave up two runs and seven hits while going four innings in a loss to Tulsa during his Double-A debut this past Sunday. This time everything fell into place.

Hancock gave up a run in the second on Patrick Wilson's RBI double and surrendered another in the third when mound opponent Gaviglio led off with an infield hit and scored on a fielder's choice.

After that, Hancock, who struck out five, allowed two singles through the next three innings.

“The first game I was nervous, because this is a higher level,” Hancock said. “Everyone is expecting more out of you. I worked some things out. This time, I felt smooth and got into a rhythm.”

Garces and O'Grady held off a late threat, before Barbato finished the Cardinals in the ninth to record his third save.